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I got my hands on a tobacco-free Newsweek

Posted by: Stephen Baker on January 29

A special offer from Newsweek in today’s NY Times: The magazine promises “to provide tobacco ad-free editions to subscribers who request it.” I paged through my latest Newsweek and couldn’t find any tobacco ads to be removed. Is this some kind of a joke? It’s backed by a couple of anti-smoking coalitions in New York. I called the 800 number and got voicemail for the Newsweek education program.

My questions: If and when a tobacco company orders an advertisement in Newsweek, will the company accept it—even if it means having to print a separate tobacco-free edition? Will there by gun-free editions as well? Could be a two-fer.

Reader Comments

Erik

January 30, 2007 11:44 AM

I'd pay extra for a magazine that didn't have all of those annoying card stock inserts before I'd care about a tobacco free edition. Those inserts bother the heck out of me. Especially when they're for subscriptions and I'm already subscribed and there are like 6 of them.

steve baker

January 30, 2007 04:03 PM

I agree Eric. It's as if the magazine comes with an immediate chore: Find a trash can.

M.T. Paige

January 30, 2007 06:07 PM

Well I am an oversensitive animal rights activist and would like to request that my copy comes free of ads for beauty products since we all know that they test that stuff on animals! Give me a break! You don't like tobacco ads? Turn the page! I will not support a magazine that is going to pander to these special interest groups...it is utter stupidity!

Glenn (Customer Service Experience) Ross

January 30, 2007 08:45 PM

At least one study of magazines done years ago shows a direct correlation between tobacco ads and lack of stories on lung cancer and other diseases caused by tobacco. Notice "Women's mags" are full of stories about breast cancer, but because they accept tobacco advertising they rarely, if ever cover lung cancer. A disease that kills far more women than breast cancer.

On the rare occasion Newsweek runs an article about the dangers of tobacco, you won't find any ads any it.

schadenfreudisch

January 31, 2007 10:33 AM

i'm with erik. i'm tired of looking like a jerk when those things fall out on the subway.

steve baker

February 1, 2007 02:02 PM

Glenn, I was very taken with your argument, but then I googled Newsweek and lung cancer and was happy to see that they did a cover story on it just a year and a half ago.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8942447/site/newsweek

Why happy? So many think we in the media are beholden to advertisers. I'm always happy to find evidence to the contrary.

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